The Passion Economy

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Exploring the belief that by taking risks, failing often, and turning a passion into a career, we create more positive outcomes for ourselves and the communities in which we live.

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In one of my favorite speeches, Harry Potter author JK Rowling delivers an amazing address to the Harvard Alumni Association titled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure.” In this speech JK Rowling describes how her career hitting the skids made possible her turnaround as an author and eventual creation of the Harry Potter franchise.

She writes, “I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

In both her story and that of Erik Proulx (below) there’s a common theme about how failure enables people to take the risks that ultimately serve them best.  It’s only after they’re forced to fail do they start truly risking failure.  In a sense I find that counter-intuitive and I’m curious to explore the subject in more detail.

The text / transcript of the speech is found here.

Career Cadence: A Workshop on Passion

This week I had an inspiring chat with Alan and Paul, two Yale School of Management grads and founders of Career Cadence, an unusual startup focused on helping college students and young professionals to figure out their passions.  Once the passion piece is figured out, they help their clients to find a job that fits this passion, and then help them market themselves effectively to potential employers.  Oh, and they do this all, with great success, in five hours.

In my conversations with Paul and Alan I’ve been struck by how practically they frame the value of turning your passion into your career.  They speak about the personal benefits of being a better performer at work (“Passion is a competitive advantage”).  They also speak about the macroeconomic advantage of a society where people are more productive, where they come home with less stress and are thus more likely to take care of their families and their health.

Wonderful stuff and refreshing to see an education-focused startup in an era dominated by scalable technology.  I’m curious to follow their journey.  Here’s to their success.

“You know how the Eskimos have like 30 something words for snow? I keep thinking that we need a larger set of words for failure. Like there’s the good failure you learn from and then there’s the failure due to neglect or lack of drive. A new word…or maybe just a symbol like prince. A huge thumbs up next to a glass of spilled milk.”

Lora Menter

Erik Proulx lost his job at one of the most well-respected ad agencies in the country. True to the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” Erik instead made a movie about folks who use their being laid off as a new lease on life, an opportunity to follow the passions that they’ve always had.

Taking a risk is difficult, and it’s interesting how when the circumstance that some feared most (getting laid off) becomes reality, suddenly risk-taking seems more palatable and a whole new world of possibility opens up.

Malcom Gladwell: Why The Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted

With the dawn of social networks we have all sorts of new channels for taking risks.  That said, is taking a risk online an equal emotional experience to taking one offline?  Malcom Gladwell explores in this piece from the New Yorker.

Words of inspiration from Michael Jordan, courtesy of a Nike TV spot: “I failed over and over again in my life.  And that is why I succeed.”

“Passion is a competitive advantage.”

Brazen Careerist

For those of us considering a drastic career change but struggling to compete with well-qualified folks in our new industry of choice, a website where ideas and potential are given the limelight.

“Behind every passion lies a business model.”

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